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BAE to Manufacture Actel’s Discontinued FPGA for Space

BAE Systems will produce and sell radiation-hardened field-programmable gate array (FPGA) semiconductors for space use. Under a license agreement with Actel Corp., the company will manufacture FPGAs that were discontinued in 2006. The agreement solves a major obsolescence problem for many legacy satellite programs, enabling producers of satellite payloads and instruments to avoid time-consuming and costly redesigns.

The RH1280B will be offered in the same 172-pin ceramic quad flat pack or in die form. The RH1280B offers a total dose radiation-hardness in excess of 300K rads (Si), the standard for a majority of applications, and guaranteed latch-up immunity. The RH1280B will have the same Standard Microcircuit Drawing number (5962F92156) to Qualified Manufacturers Lists Q and V levels as the original. Flight units will be delivered in the second quarter of 2008.